Manufacturing techniques
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Contents
Types of manufacturing
Subtractive manufacturing
In this process, a piece of solid material (typically called stock) is placed in the work area, and the machine removes material to create the object. The most visible machine in this category is the mill, but there are many others, including the lathe.
Additive manufacturing
In this process, the machine starts with an empty work area and (typically) extrudes or melts material onto it to create the object. The most visible machine in this category is the 3d printer.
Formative manufacturing
In this process, the machine injects or pours liquid material into a mold and allows it to cool. The most visible machine in this category is the injection molder, but even jello molds are a formative manufacturing process.
Manufacturing machine and materials examples
This should not be considered an exhaustive list.
Process | Sub-category | Machine | Typical material |
---|---|---|---|
Subtractive | Rotating stock, movable tool | lathe | metal, wood |
Fixed stock, Rotating tool | mill | metal, wood | |
Additive | fused filament fabrication (FFF) | 3d printer | ABS, PLA, PET |
selective laser sintering (SLS) | 3d printer | thermoplastic powder | |
stereolithography (SLA) | 3d printer | photopolymer | |
Formative | forging | forge + hammer | metal |
casting | injection molder | thermoplastic pellets |